avaroha

Avaroha, or avaroha, is the descending scale or sequence of notes used in Indian classical music to articulate melodic movement within a raga. It serves as the counterpart to aroha, the ascending scale, and together they help define the characteristic ascent and descent of a raga.

Avaroha is often not a fixed, strictly stepwise descent. Many ragas permit vakra (zigzag) phrases in the downward movement, and some notes may be omitted or used sparingly to preserve the mood or emphasis of the raga. The exact avaroha is chosen to highlight the raga’s distinctive mood, ornaments, and cadence, shaping how the melody resolves and returns to the resting pitch.

In Hindustani music, the aroha and avaroha are central to a raga’s identity and are used in performance alongside ornamentation such as meend (glides) and gamak (emphasis). In Carnatic music, a closely related concept is avarohanam, which similarly defines the descending contour of a raga and interacts with the ascent, aarohanam.

Practically, performers improvise within the avaroha, balancing melodic freedom with the need to preserve the raga’s characteristic phrases and tonal color. The avaroha, together with the aroha, provides a framework for melodic exploration and raga-specific expression.